Tool box

ABSTRACT

A tool box is for holding a plurality of tools and tool parts. The tool box includes a base, a lid and at least one tray. The base has at least one row. The lid is attached to the base. Each tray has at least one receiving device adapted to receive one of a predetermined tool and tool part. Each tray is releaseably attachable in a row and includes a magnetic method of holding the tray in the row. The tool box may include a plurality of rows. The magnetic holding method may include a metal strip attached to the bottom of each row and a plurality of magnets attached to the bottom of each tray.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to tool boxes and in particular tool boxesadapted to store a plurality of different tools and parts thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Tool boxes are likely almost as old as tools themselves. Toolboxes come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Some tool boxes aresingle function tool boxes that are designed to hold a particular toolfor example a drill or a hand saw. Others are designed to hold aplurality of one type of tool part. Still others are designed to hold aplurality of different tools and/or tool parts.

[0003] Typically the tool boxes designed to hold a plurality ofdifferent tools and tool parts try to maximize the number of tools in apredetermined space. Accordingly, the tools and tool parts arepositioned with an eye to space utilization rather than toolfunctionality. Accordingly the drill bits may be mixed with screwdriverbits and/or sockets. This intermingling of the tool parts often makesthe tools and the tool box difficult to use. As well, since the toolparts are arranged as close together as possible they are oftendifficult to remove and replace. As well, if certain tools are neededfor a particular task the user either has to obtain each toolindividually or the user has to take the entire tool box to theparticular task.

[0004] Some tool boxes have been suggested which use magnets to hold thetool or tool parts in position. However, the prior art does not show atool box that holds tool trays in place with magnets. Further none ofthe prior art shows a tool box with a plurality of removable tool trayseach adapted to hold particular tools or tool parts.

[0005] Accordingly it would be advantageous to provide a tool box thatis easy to use, versatile and holds a plurality of different types oftools and tool parts. Further it would be advantageous to provide a toolbox that has a plurality of different trays, each designed to hold adifferent set of tools or tool part, that may easily be removed andrepositioned in a tool box.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention is a tool box for holding a plurality oftools and tool parts. The tool box includes a base, a lid and at leastone tray. The base has at least one row. The lid is attached to thebase. Each tray has at least one receiving device adapted to receive oneof a predetermined tool and tool part. Each tray is releaseablyattachable in a row and includes a magnetic method of holding the trayin the row. The tool box may include a plurality of rows. The magneticholding method may include a metal strip attached to the bottom of eachrow and a plurality of magnets attached to the bottom of each tray.

[0007] In another aspect of the invention a tool box is adapted toreceive at least one tray having at least one receiving device adaptedto receive one of a predetermined tool and tool part. The tool boxincludes a base and a lid. The base has at least one row adapted toreceive a tray. The tool box includes a magnetic method of holding atray in the row.

[0008] In further aspect of the invention a tray is adapted to bepositioned in a tool box having a base having at least one row and a lidattachable to the base. The tray includes at least one receiving deviceadapted to receive one of a predetermined tool and tool part. The trayis releaseably attachable in the row of the tool box and the trayincludes a magnetic method of holding the tray in the row.

[0009] In a still further aspect of the invention a tool box is forholding a plurality of tools and tool parts. The tool box includes abase, a lid and a plurality of trays. The base has at least one row. Thelid is attachable to the base. Each tray has at least one receivingdevice adapted to receive one of a predetermined tool and tool part.Each tray is releaseably attachable in a row. There is a method ofholding each tray in a row.

[0010] Further features of the invention will be described or willbecome apparent in the course of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The invention will now be described by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tool box constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG.1,

[0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention showing thetool box attached to a wall;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of thetool box of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment of tool box of FIG.4 shown attached to a user's belt; and

[0017]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second alternate embodiment ofthe tool box of the present invention but showing width-wise rows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, the tool box of the present invention isshown generally at 10. The tool box 10 holds a plurality of easilyremovable trays 12.

[0019] The tool box has a lid 14 and a base 16 joined by a hinge 18. Thebase 16 is divided into a plurality of rows 20. Each pair of rows 20 hasan elongate ridge 22 therebetween. Each row 20 has a metal portion 24 towhich a magnet will attach. Preferably the metal portion 24 is anelongate metal strip which is attached along the bottom of the row 20and extends along the length thereof. The sides 26 of each row isgenerally curved inwardly. All of the rows 20 have the same transversecross section. Preferably lid 14 is transparent. It will be appreciatedby those skilled in the art that a wide variety of dimensions may beused for the tool box 10. For example box 10 may be 15 inches long by 12inches wide by 3 inches deep.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 2, each tray 12 is adapted to receive apredetermined tool, set of tools or parts thereof. Each tray 12 has aunderside 28 shaped to fit into a row 20. The underside 28 has agenerally flat bottom portion 30 and curved side portions 32. Attachedto the underside 28 is a magnetic portion 34. Preferably magnets 35 areattached to the four corner(s) of the underside 28 of the tray 12. Eachtray 12 has at least one receiving device 36 that receives a tool ortool part. Preferably the receiving devices 36 are arranged such that aset of tools or tool parts may be positioned in a predetermined tray.Each tray 12 has a recessed portion 38 on each end thereof. The recessedportion 38 provides a place for the user to grip the tray 12 to easilyremove it from the box 10 or place it therein. Each tray 12 is held inplace by the force between the magnet portion 34 on the tray 12 and themetal portion 24 in each row 20 of the box 10. Since the side portion 32of each tray 12 is curved and it mates with the curved side 26 of ridge22, each tray 12 can easily be positioned in a row 20 of the box 10.

[0021] As discussed above, the receiving devices 36 are arranged suchthat a set of tools or tool parts may be positioned in a tray. Forexample the following type of trays may be included, some of which areshown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 6; a screwdriver bit tray 40; a socket tray42; a countersink bit tray (not shown); a hole saw tray 44 (shown inFIG. 6); a hand tool tray 46, an adapter tray 48; a nut setter tray 50;a drill bit tray 52; and a spade bit tray 54. A tray may also be adaptedto be a container as shown by large box tray 55 and small box tray 57 inFIG. 6. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that thislist of trays is by way of example only and that any number of differenttypes of trays could also be used. Trays 12 may also include writing orsymbols to indicate which tool or tool part that should be placed in thereceiving device 36. Each tray 12 fits into a row 20 and therefore thewidth of each tray is the same but the length may vary depending on thetool or tool part that is adapted to fit into the particular tray.

[0022] There are a number of features that may be incorporated into box10 to make it easier to use in certain circumstances. For example, hinge18 may have a central portion 56 that is magnetic. Magnetic centralportion 56 may be used as a quick catcher for tools or tool parts, asbest seen in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. Box 10 may also include adetachable strap 58. Box 10 may be provided with a retractable handle 60so that it can easily be retracted to ease storage and minimizeobstruction. Box 10 may be provided with a magnetic lock 62.

[0023] Preferably box 10 is attachable to a wall 64 as shown in FIG. 3.Box 10 may be provided with base magnets 66 (shown in FIG. 2) which areattachable to a metal portion (not shown) on a wall 64. Lid 14 isarranged such that when base 16 is attached to a wall the angle 68formed between the lid 14 and the base 16 is generally between 90° and115° and is preferably about 100°. Referring to FIG. 2, the inner hingeedge 70 of lid 14 will bear against metal portion 24 when the lid is inthe open position. When base 16 of box 10 is attached to wall 64 and lid14 is in the open position, lid 14 acts as a handy shelf.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 a smaller embodiment of the tool boxis shown generally at 80. The small tool box 80 is generally the same astool box 10 but it holds a more limited number of trays 12 and it hasonly one row 20. The small tool box 80 is sized to be easily carried orclipped onto the user's belt as shown in FIG. 5. It will be appreciatedby those skilled in the art that the small tool box 80 may beconstructed in a variety of sizes. For example the small tool box may be12 inches long by 5 inches wide by 2 inches deep.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 6, an alternate embodiment of the tool box isshown generally at 90. Tool box 90 is similar to tool box 10 but it haswidth-wise rows 92 rather than the length-wise rows 20 of box 10.

[0026] The lid 14, base 16, hinge 18 and tray 12 of the tool box 10, 80are preferably injection molded. The base 16, hinge 18 and tray 12 maybe made from ABS plastic, polypropylene and/or polyethylene and thetransparent lid 14 from acrylic. All but the retractable handle and thelid are injection molded ABS, polypropylene and/or polyethylene. The lid14 and the base 16 are connected by a pair of pivot hinges 18 in which amagnet 56 is housed and to be used as a magnetic catcher. Each metalportion 24 is preferably a brushed steel plate that is attached to thebottom of each row 20 of the box 10, 80. The retractable handle 60 ispreferably made of injection molded rubber ABS, polypropylene and/orpolyethylene.

[0027] There are a number of advantages that may be realized with thetool box 10, 80 of the present invention. The tool box is easy to usewith a wide variety of tools and tool parts. If the user is working on aproject that requires a variety of different sized drill bits but noother tools the user can easily take that one tray to the project.Further, the user may arrange the tools in the tool box to suit his/herown work routine rather than a tool box that tries to force the maximumnumber of tools into the minimum sized box with little of an eye tofunctionality or usability.

[0028] It will be appreciated that the above description related to theinvention by way of example only. Many variations on the invention willbe obvious to those skilled in the art and such obvious variations arewithin the scope of the invention as described herein whether or notexpressly described.

What is claimed as the invention is:
 1. A tool box for holding aplurality of tools and tool parts comprising: a base having at least onerow; a lid attachable to the base; at least one tray, each tray havingat least one receiving device adapted to receive one of a predeterminedtool and tool part and each tray being releaseably attachable in therow; and a magnetic means for holding each tray in the row.
 2. A toolbox as claimed in claim 1 further including a plurality of trays.
 3. Atool box as claimed in claim 2 wherein the magnetic means includes anelongate metal plate attached to a bottom of the row and a plurality ofmagnets attached to a bottom of each tray.
 4. A tool box as claimed inclaim 2 wherein each tray has a recess on each end thereof.
 5. A toolbox as claimed in claim 2 wherein each row has curved sides and eachtray has corresponding curved sides.
 6. A tool box as claimed in claim 2further including a storage tray having a lid attachable to the tray andthe storage tray is releaseably attachable to the row.
 7. A tool box asclaimed in claim 2 further including a retractable handle.
 8. A tool boxas claimed in claim 2 further including a magnetic lock.
 9. A tool boxas claimed in claim 2 further including a releaseably attachablecarrying strap.
 10. A tool box as claimed in claim 2 wherein one of theplurality of trays is adapted to receive a plurality of drill bits. 11.A tool box as claimed in claim 2 wherein one of the plurality of traysis adapted to receive a plurality of spade drill bits.
 12. A tool box asclaimed in claim 2 wherein one of the plurality of trays is adapted toreceive a plurality of nut setters.
 13. A tool box as claimed in claim 2wherein one of the plurality of trays is adapted to receive a pluralityof sockets.
 14. A tool box as claimed in claim 2 wherein one of theplurality of trays is adapted to receive a plurality of screwdriverbits.
 15. A tool box as claimed in claim 2 wherein one of the pluralityof trays is adapted to receive an adapter.
 16. A tool box as claimed inclaim 2 wherein one of the plurality of trays is adapted to receive aplurality of hole saws.
 17. A tool box as claimed in claim 2 furtherincluding a plurality of rows.
 18. A tool box as claimed in claim 2wherein the lid is hingeably attached to the base and has an open and aclosed position and in the open position an angle between the lid andthe base is generally between 90° and 115°.
 19. A tool box as claimed inclaim 19 wherein the angle is 110°.
 20. A tool box adapted to receive atleast one tray having at least one receiving device adapted to receiveone of a predetermined tool and tool part comprising: a base having atleast one row adapted to receive the tray; a lid attachable to the base;and a magnetic means for holding each tray in the row.
 21. A tool box asclaimed in claim 20 wherein the lid is hingeably attached to the baseand has an open and a closed position and in the open position an anglebetween the lid and the base is generally between 90° and 115°.
 22. Atool box as claimed in claim 21 wherein the angle is 110°.
 23. A toolbox as claimed in claim 20 further including a retractable handle.
 24. Atool box as claimed in claim 20 further including a magnetic lock.
 25. Atool box as claimed in claim 20 further including a releaseablyattachable carrying strap.
 26. A tray adapted to be positioned in a toolbox having a base having at least one row and a lid attachable to thebase comprising: at least one receiving device adapted to receive one ofa predetermined tool and tool part; the tray releaseably attachable inthe row of the tool box; and a magnetic means for holding the tray inthe row.
 27. A tray as claimed in claim 26 wherein the tray is adaptedto receive a plurality of drill bits.
 28. A tray as claimed in claim 26wherein the tray is adapted to receive a plurality of spade drill bits.29. A tray as claimed in claim 26 wherein the tray is adapted to receivea plurality of nut setters.
 30. A tray as claimed in claim 26 whereinthe tray is adapted to receive a plurality of sockets.
 31. A tray asclaimed in claim 26 wherein the tray is adapted to receive a pluralityof screwdriver bits.
 32. A tray as claimed in claim 26 wherein the trayis adapted to receive an adapter.
 33. A tray as claimed in claim 26wherein the tray is adapted to receive a plurality of hole saws.
 34. Atool box for holding a plurality of tools and tool parts comprising: abase having at least one row; a lid attachable to the base; a pluralityof trays, each tray having at least one receiving device adapted toreceive one of a predetermined tool and tool part and each tray isreleaseably attachable in the row; and a holding means for holding eachtray in the row.
 35. A tool box as claimed in claim 34 further includinga plurality of rows.
 36. A tool box as claimed in claim 34 wherein eachrow has curved sides and each tray has corresponding curved sides.